'Everything but the pews' stolen from Mass. church

Associated Press

Springfield, Mass. (AP) — A longtime member of a Massachusetts church says thieves have ransacked the house of worship, taking "everything but the pews."

Bernadine Smith says the thieves took an organ, communion dishes, the PA system, microphone stands, furniture, silverware and other items from the Springfield church sometime last week. She estimates the losses at $150,000.

Police Sgt. John Delaney said somebody used a key to enter the church between Aug. 20 and Aug. 22.

The 80-year-old congregation has been at its present Bay Street location since 1965.

Smith tells The Republican (http://bit.ly/190c7jK ) the church has insurance, but those documents may have also been stolen.

She says everything is gone except for "the pews and a couple chairs out of the pulpit."